I have this conversation almost every day with a prospective applicant to MBA and other Masters programs.
Two things have upended the question around taking the GMAT:
1) Programs saying the GMAT is optional
2) Program saying they are ok with the GMAT or the GRE
My answer is always the same.
The GMAT has been the testing standard for MBA admissions for many years (50+). Not only is it widely known and understood by Admissions Committees, it also forms the basis of several key MBA school rankings and scholarship decisions for applicants.
It's true that you can gain admission to your program without the GMAT, but there needs to be something else to take its place. What other objective evidence can you provide of your executive reasoning skills? Your quant skills will be obvious from your CFA etc. But the other elements need to come out elsewhere in your application.
Happy to discuss further including how you can more quickly prep for the GMAT using a process/strategy focused approach that reduces the need for deep academic knowledge of quant and verbal.
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Arvind
Lead GMAT Performance Coach
RetaketheGMAT / i4Excellence Elearning
Tel / WhatApp +1 305 814 9299